Kinematics Analysis of Mechanisms Based on Virtual Assembly

Currently,virtual assembly technology has attracted increasing attention due to considerations of solving assembly problems in virtual environment before actual assembly in manufactory.Previous studies on kinematic analysis of mechanism only aim at analyzing motion law of single mechanism,but can not simulate the multi-mechanisms motion process at the same time,let alone simulating the automatic assembly process of products in a whole assembly workshop.In order to simulate the assembly process of products in an assembly workshop and provide effective data for analyzing mechanical performance after finishing assembly simulation in virtual environment,this study investigates the kinematics analysis of mechanisms based on virtual assembly.Firstly,in view of the same function of the kinematic pairs and the assembly constraints on restricting the motion of components (subassembly or part),the method of identifying kinematic pairs automatically based on assembly constraints is presented.The information of kinematic pairs can be obtained through calculating the constraint degree of the assembly constraints.Secondly,the incidence matrix eliminating element method is proposed in order to search the information and establish the models of mechanisms automatically after finishing assembly simulation in virtual environment.Both methods have important significance for reducing the workload of pretreatment and promoting the level of automation of kinematics analysis.Finally,the method of kinematics analysis of mechanisms is presented.Based on Descartes coordinates,three types of kinematics equations are formed.The parameters,like displacement,velocity,and acceleration,can be obtained by solving these equations.All these data are important to analyze mechanical performance.All the methods are implemented and validated in the prototype system virtual assembly process planning(VAPP).The mechanism models are established and simulated in the VAPP system,and the result curves are shown accurately.The proposed kinematics analysis of mechanisms based on virtual assembly provides an effective method for simulating product assembly process automatically and analyzing mechanical performance after finishing assembly simulation.